Greg Inglis flared his nostrils, rolled his eyes, folded his arms and in one short sentence crash-tackled rugby league's most damning rumour - that he nominated to play for Queensland's Origin team because its selectors had a supposedly greater record for picking indigenous players than his native state.

''I don't know where that came from,'' Inglis said indignantly. ''Never heard it before, but of course people would say that … pick anything up and turn it into a rumour and run with it.''

Inglis opened the door for the question when he laughed at the notion Blues supporters cursed him - and the Maroons - every Origin series when the powerfully built product of the NSW north coast punched holes in the Blues' defensive line, tossed NSW ball carriers about and scored tries with regularity.

''I can understand people cursing Queensland,'' he said of his decision. ''It's one of those things, state versus state, mate versus mate. I was born and bred [in] NSW, but there is a whole different story behind that … ''

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Time will most probably reveal the full story behind Inglis's pledge of allegiance to Queensland, but for the short-term he'd at least scuttled rumours perceived racism at the selection table forced his hand.

His answer resonated in the lead-up to the annual Indigenous-NRL All Stars match in Brisbane and the inaugural camp for NRL players of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Players will gather at a two-day conference on the Sunshine Coast next month to realise the benchmarks that they, as leaders, must set in their communities.

He said wearing his All Stars jumper, bedecked with its indigenous artwork, brought to the surface emotion and pride.

''All these jumpers have different meanings,'' he said thoughtfully when asked to compare the Kangaroo jumper to the All Stars'. ''With the Australian jumper you are representing your nation, going out there to show everyone Australia is the best league team in the world.

''When it's your NRL club's you want to prove to the other 15 teams you're the best in the comp. When you put on a Queensland jumper it's state and family. All these jumpers mean I represent people. When it comes to the Indigenous All Stars, for me, it is your culture; your ancestors. It comes from within. It is about Aboriginal culture. I don't know what the [other] All Stars feel because I can't speak for them, but for me, personally, it is about being proud of who I am and honouring my culture.''

His heroics on the field be it for Souths, Brisbane, Melbourne, the Indigenous All Stars, Australia, even Queensland, have inspired many kids to want to emulate his feats. However, as his reputation has grown, so too has Inglis's meaning in the community.

His decision to go to university and study a business and marketing degree has sent out the message to kids, school is cool. His GI clothing line shows an entrepreneurial streak and his dedication to fitness is a living testament as to why kids shouldn't pollute their blood stream.

As Inglis spoke about his desire to make a difference two indigenous sprinters from the bush-fire ravaged township of Condobolin were in Jamaica training with the Caribbean island's legendary track and field Olympic coach Maurice Wilson and even as they learnt the secrets that catapulted Usain Bolt to the top of the world, the blockbusting Inglis was firmly in their thoughts.

''I've grown up watching Greg,'' said 18-year-old speedster Keanau Wighton. ''He has inspired me to aim high, which is what I'm doing now. Kids run around my town wanting to be like Greg; here in Jamaica, they all want to be like Bolt and if kids, one day, want to be like me I'd be proud.''

His running mate, Sam Coe, who, like Wighton qualified for the finals at a state championship despite never having used starting blocks before, also nominated Inglis as the figure that pushed him to go on when it could be easier to give up.

''He makes me proud, Greg Inglis makes me want to make something of myself,'' he said. '' I believe I can on the track, having people believe in me makes me want to go home and rip into training.''

However, Inglis admitted his desire to be all he could was tested in the early days of his burgeoning career.

''My old man, Wade, played front row for Macksville and because he retired when I was eight I saw him play on numerous occasions and I admired the way he played,'' he recalled. ''He wanted me to pursue what I wanted in life and when I played at Brisbane he made sure I didn't let homesickness beat me.

''There was one instance there when I shot through, I didn't want to be there, and I went home for two months but on that time I listened to my parents … they told me to go back. Dad and my pop [Alexander] realised the home sickness was the biggest challenge and said I had to just wait it out.''

Souths coach Michael Maguire, who first met Inglis when he was a leaner and younger player at Melbourne, said he was proud of the man that boy had become.

''Now he's a leader of the group, a leader in the game and he understands that,'' Maguire said. ''He handles it very well.'' Inglis said his being acknowledged as ''something'' made the brutality of the sport well worthwhile.

''It makes me proud,'' he said of hearing Inglis meant ''hope'' to a lot of kids. ''I'm not just doing it for myself … It gives me satisfaction to hear kids say 'I want to do this' but my message is they have to get up and do it.''